Arts

The arts engage, provoke and excite us, but above all they can reflect and shape our sense of community identity and encourage participation within our communities. The expressive nature of the arts enhance individual engagement in ways that have both personal and community benefits.

Our local expression, heritage and identity are captured and promoted through art activities and programs held throughout the region. The number of visitors attracted to the region to participate also benefits our economy and tourism industry.

Number of people reporting participation in arts and cultural activities

To determine whether residents of the City of Onkaparinga had participated in any arts or cultural activities they were asked as part of the Community Wellbeing Monitor Survey 2016 (10) whether in the last 12 months they had participated in any of the following:

Art events

Arts activities and programs

Exhibitions

Other cultural activities

Participants were informed that ‘arts’ refers to performance and visual arts, craft and design, music, literature, theatre, writing and dance. Cultural activities were referred to as activities that encompass our community’s values, customs and aspirations and are expressed through various mediums, including the arts.

A total of 411 respondents completed this year’s Community Wellbeing Monitor Survey.

Data Analysis

Only participants that provided an answer for the question were included in the analysis.

As demonstrated in Figure 1, in 2016 the highest participation was in ‘exhibitions’ (26.9 per cent), followed by ‘art events’ (23.8 per cent), ‘other cultural activities’ (18.1 per cent) and then ‘arts activities and programs’ (15.1 per cent).

Figure 1: Proportion of respondents that participated in arts and cultural events, City of Onkaparinga, 2013 and 2016Source: City of Onkaparinga, Community Wellbeing Monitor Survey (10)

Trend Analysis

In 2016 participation levels increased for all arts and cultural events when compared with 2013 (Figure 1). There was an increase in participation of ‘art events’ by 45.9 per cent, participation increased in arts ‘activities and programs’ by 60.4 per cent, participation increased in ‘exhibition attendance’ by 8.9 per cent and there was also an increase in the participation of ‘other cultural activities’ by 14.8 per cent.

Policy implications

Participation in all areas of art and cultural events increased between 2013 and 2016, with the greatest proportion of respondents participating in exhibitions in 2016. The draft Community Capacity and Culture Strategy Arts and Cultural Development Strategic Management Plan 2014-19 both recognise that our city supports local artists and will continue to provide opportunities for communities to participate in the arts, particularly with the opening of Sauerbier House within the last 12 months. These initiatives will continue to address the Community Plan Objective 2.3 Artistic and Creative Expression.

This indicator is linked to other strategies, plans and targets outlined below:

Government of South Australia South Australia’s Strategic Plan Targets:

3. Cultural vibrancy: increase the vibrancy of the South Australian arts industry by increasing attendance at selected arts activities by 150% by 2020. 99. Cultural engagement–institutions: Increase the number of attendances at South Australia’s cultural institutions by 20% by 2014 and maintain or improve thereafter.